13 Sound of Music Filming Locations You Can Actually Visit in Salzburg

Every year, thousands of fans flock to Salzburg to see if the hills really are alive with the sound of music. OK that’s a little bit dramatic. But they definitely come to the Austrian city to visit The Sound of Music filming locations. I would know because I’m one of them.

I’ve been to Salzburg twice and visited all 13 of these Sound of Music filming locations, either on foot, by bus or by train. And I learned a lot along the way! That’s why I’ve put together this guide with important details and practical tips so you can Do-Re-See all of your favorite things from the film.

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The Sound of Music Filming Locations in Salzburg

You’ve seen the movie more times than you can count; now it’s time to walk in Maria and the von Trapp children’s footsteps for yourself! These Sound of Music filming locations are all located in Salzburg and relatively easy to get to.

Mirabell Palace and Gardens

🎬 Scene from The Sound of Music: “Do-Re-Mi”
📍 Location: Salzburg Neustadt
💰 Cost: Free

Other than the opening scene, Mirabell Palace and Gardens is arguably the most recognizable Sound of Music filming location in Salzburg. The most popular spots include the Pegasus Fountain, marble steps, arbor tunnels and the “needle pulling thread” statues.

If you don’t want to compete with people jumping up and down the steps or have an audience while recreating your own “Do-Re-Mi” scene, get there early. The grounds are practically empty before 8:30 a.m.

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Dwarf Garden (Der Zwerglgarten)

🎬 Scene from The Sound of Music: “Do-Re-Mi”
📍 Location: Mirabell Palace and Gardens
💰 Cost: Free

The Dwarf Garden is the oldest dwarf garden in Europe (yes, really) and dates back to 1695. There were originally 28 dwarfs, but they were all sold at auction in 1811. Since the early 20th century, 19 have been returned to the garden.

The dwarf featured in “Do-Re-Mi” is Zwerg mit Zwicker, or Dwarf with Glasses. You’ll find it in the back corner of the garden.

If you don’t know where the Dwarf Garden is, it can be hard to find since it’s tucked away in its own area. You have to walk over a small bridge from the main gardens to get there.

Winkler Terrance (Mönchsberg)

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🎬 Scene from The Sound of Music: “Do-Re-Mi”
📍 Location: Museum der Moderne Salzburg
💰 Cost: €4.80 round trip or free with the Salzburg Card

Remember the part in “Do-Re-Mi” when the von Trapp children slowly sing “So, do, la, fa, mi, do, re”? It was filmed on Mönchsberg near what is now the Museum der Moderne Salzburg. You can reach this location by taking the Mönchsberg Lift (MönchsbergAufzug) from Gstättengasse, which takes you up to the museum and viewpoint.

Because I don’t believe in sleeping in on vacation, I went to the Winkler Terrace around 8:30 a.m. and there were maybe two or three other people up there.

Pferdeschwemme

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🎬 Scene from The Sound of Music: Maria takes the von Trapp kids around Salzburg
📍 Location: Herbert von Karajan Square (Salzburg Altstadt)
💰 Cost: Free

Located in Herbert von Karajan Square, the Pferdeschwemme, or Horse Pond, is one of the more unique Sound of Music filming locations. It dates back to 1603 and was used to wash the horses of the prince-archbishops. In other words, it was a 17th-century car wash but for horses. For the best light, go in the morning.

Felsenreitschule

🎬 Scene from The Sound of Music: Music competition
📍 Location: Salzburg Altstadt
💰 Cost: €7.00 for a guided tour or free with the Salzburg Card

The Felsenreitschule has had many lives: quarry, summer riding school, stage and film set. Its name translates to “rock riding school” because it was quite literally built into the Mönchsberg.

Fans will easily recognize the Felsenreitschule, and the stone arcades, from the scene when the von Trapp family competed in the Salzburg Music Festival before making their escape.

If you want to go inside the Felsenreitschule to see the historic stage, you will either need to book a guided tour or buy tickets to one of the performances.

Residenzbrunnen

🎬 Scene from The Sound of Music: “I Have Confidence”
📍 Location: Residenzplatz (Salzburg Altstadt)
💰 Cost: Free

The horse theme continues at Residenzbrunnen, or Residence Fountain. The baroque fountain, which features four horses, three dolphins and a triton, is where Maria stops to splash her hand in the water.

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Nonnberg Abbey

🎬 Scene from The Sound of Music: Maria’s convent before living with the von Trapps
📍 Location: Salzburg Altstadt
💰 Cost: Free

Known for its vibrant red onion dome, Nonnberg Abbey is located beneath Hohensalzburg Fortress on Festungsberg. This Sound of Music filming location is where the real Maria Kutschera lived for two years and where she married Georg von Trapp in 1927. And yes, you can go inside the chapel.

The walk up to Nonnberg Abbey is pretty steep. But once you make it up there, it’s well worth the huffing and puffing. (Cue “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”)

Mozart Bridge

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🎬 Scene from The Sound of Music: Maria takes the von Trapp kids around Salzburg
📍 Location: Salzach River
💰 Cost: Free

The Mozart Bridge, or Mozartsteg, makes an appearance during an instrumental of “My Favorite Things” when Maria takes the von Trapp kids around Salzburg. Built in 1903, the Art Nouveau-style pedestrian bridge stretches across the Salzach River and connects Neustadt with Altstadt.

Frohnburg Palace

🎬 Scene from The Sound of Music: The front of Villa von Trapp
📍 Location: Hellbrunner Allee
💰 Cost: Free to view the exterior

Filming Villa von Trapp was kind of like a mullet: business in the front, party in the back. Frohnburg Palace served as the front of Villa von Trapp where Maria arrived swinging her suitcases and singing “I Have Confidence.”  Today. it’s the home of Universität Mozarteum, but you can still stop by to click your heels in front of the gates.

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Schloss Leopoldskron

🎬 Scene from The Sound of Music: The back of Villa von Trapp
📍 Location: Leopoldskron-Moos (Bus 11 or 20-minte walk from Altstadt)
💰 Cost: Free to view the exterior; tours, dining reservations or hotel stays required for interior access

If Frohnburg Palace is business in the front, Schloss Leopoldskron is the party in the back. The lakeside terrace of this famous hotel, including the seahorse gate, served as the “backyard” of Villa von Trapp.

The inside of the hotel wasn’t used in The Sound of Music; the interiors were recreated on a soundstage in Los Angeles. However, if you want to embrace your inner Belle in the Max Reinhardt library or admire the Venetian Salon, you have a couple of options.

1. Book a stay at Schloss Leopoldskron
2. Book a guided tour through the hotel
3. Make a reservation at one of the hotel’s restaurants

Walking around the lake is just as magical, but don’t disturb the geese. They can be pretty aggressive.

The Sound of Music Gazebo

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🎬 Scene from The Sound of Music: “Sixteen Going on Seventeen”
📍 Location: Hellbrunn Palace
💰 Cost: Free

If you’ve ever wanted to channel your inner Liesl, here’s your chance. Previously located at Schloss Leopoldskron, The Sound of Music Gazebo has called the gardens at Hellbrunn Palace home since the 1990s. However, the interior is locked to prevent injuries from uncoordinated dancing tourists.

If you have time, check out the new Sound of Music Museum, which is right next to the gazebo. You can learn more about what’s on display in my Sound of Music Museum guide.

The Sound of Music Filming Locations Outside of Salzburg

Not every scene in The Sound of Music was filmed in Salzburg. These two filming locations are in nearby towns, and they’re totally worth the extra effort to visit.

The Sound of Music Meadow (Werfen, Austria)

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🎬 Scene from The Sound of Music: “Do-Re-Mi”
🚆 How to Get There from Salzburg: Train
💰 Cost: Free to visit the meadow

Let’s start from the very beginning… The Sound of Music meadow is located in Werfen, Austria, which is only a 45-minute train ride from Salzburg. The hike to the meadow where Maria sings “Do-Re-Mi” is less than a mile, but it’s not exactly a leisurely hike. I cover everything you need to know about how to get to the meadow in my Sound of Music Trail guide.

Basilika St. Michael (Mondsee, Austria)

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🎬 Scene from The Sound of Music: Maria and Captain von Trapp’s wedding
🚌 How to Get There from Salzburg: Line 140 Bus or guided tour
💰 Cost: Free to enter the church

How do you walk down the aisle like Maria? You go to Basilika St. Michael in Mondsee, where Maria and Captain von Trapp’s wedding was filmed. When you visit, look closely at the altar. It’s filled with elaborately dressed skeletons or “catacomb saints.”

If you’d rather visit with a guided tour, this stop is included on the Original Sound of Music Tour.

Sound of Music Filming Locations FAQs

Still have questions about The Sound of Music filming locations? I have answers!

Where was the opening scene of The Sound of Music filmed?

The opening scene of The Sound of Music, where Maria twirls and sings “The Hills Are Alive,” was filmed in Marktschellenberg, Germany. The meadow is on private property, but you can still twirl in the other Sound of Music meadow in Werfen.

Can you visit The Sound of Music filming locations on your own?

Yes! You can visit most of The Sound of Music filming locations on your own, especially since many are located in Salzburg’s Altstadt and Neustadt. However, some locations, like Basilika St. Michael in Mondsee, are easier to reach with a guided tour.

What is the best Sound of Music tour in Salzburg?

As someone who’s taken both the Original Sound of Music Tour and Fräulein Maria’s Bicycle Tour, I’d say it depends on what you want to see. The bicycle tour takes you to several filming locations the bus tour only passes by, while the bus tour makes it easy to get to Mondsee.

I break down both tours in my Ultimate Guide to Salzburg’s Sound of Music Tours.

That’s a Wrap on The Sound of Music Filming Locations!

So long, farewell, Auf Wiedersehen, goodbye! I hope my Sound of Music filming locations guide helps make Salzburg come alive with the sound of music. And if you can’t see them all in one trip, it’s the perfect excuse to come back.

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